One governor is showing the way to stand up to anti-Judeo-Christian secularists assaulting Biblical values. On Tuesday, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin defied the state’s supreme court, asserting that the Ten Commandments monument stationed at the Capitol will remain despite the court’s ruling that it has to be removed.
Prompted by the ACLU, which filed a challenge on behalf of four plaintiffs, the court ruled 7-2 to overrule a lower court ruling allowing the monument to stay. The court cited Article II, Section 5, of the state constitution, which reads: “No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.”
The court also acknowledged, “The Ten Commandments are obviously religious in nature and are an integral part of the Jewish and Christian faiths.”
But on Tuesday, Fallin struck back, stating that Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has requested a rehearing of the case by the court. She stated:
At this time, Attorney General Scott Pruitt, with my support, has filed a petition requesting rehearing of the Ten Commandments case. Additionally, our Legislature has signaled its support for pursuing changes to our state Constitution that will make it clear the Ten Commandments monument is legally permissible. If legislative efforts are successful, the people of Oklahoma will get to vote on this issue. During this process, which will involve both legal appeals and potential legislative and constitutional changes, the Ten Commandments monument will remain on the Capitol grounds.
Pruitt had reacted to the supreme court’s decision by stating angrily, “The court completely ignored the profound historical impact of the Ten Commandments on the foundation of Western law.”
On Tuesday, Fallin continued, “Oklahoma is a state where we respect the rule of law, and we will not ignore the state courts or their decisions. However, we are also a state with three co-equal branches of government.”
On Monday, State Rep. John Paul Jordan, R-Yukon, filed legislation which would remove the section of the state constitution that the state supreme court used to buttress its argument for removing the monument. Jordan said that the section banning use of state funds for religious purposes was “toxic” and a “malignant tumor” that “needs to be removed completely.”
The 10 Commandments monument was privately funded by Rep. Mike Ritze (R-Broken Arrow).
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